The riots on the Temple Mount, which lasted for hours on Friday and ended in dozens of wounded, are a diplomatic achievement for Hamas and the terrorist organizations.
Over the weekend, a uniform and unprecedented front was established in the Middle East that condemned Israel in particular - and not the rioters who barricaded themselves in the mosque and desecrated its honor.
From Iran to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, there were strong condemnations of Israel.
In recent days, Hamas has echoed in its leaks to Arab media, such as the Qatari al-Jazeera network and the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, the narrative that Jews are about to make a Passover sacrifice in the al-Aqsa Mosque.
Salah al-Aruri, a senior member of the terrorist organization who is abroad, was even interviewed on television on Thursday evening and said that he received messages from mediators that Israel would prevent the sacrifice of victims in the mosque.
Hamas had something to rely on in its lies in light of an initiative by Temple Mount activists arrested by the police (but did not intend to make a sacrifice inside the mosque, apparently).
A Hamas source even lied that there was an agreement between Israel and Jordan to prevent a stay in the mosque.
In any case, the plot caught on - and crowds were heard calling for Hamas to reach the mosque on Friday.
Clashes on the Temple Mount, Photo: AFP
For centuries, the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been considered one of the holiest sites for Islam.
According to Muslim tradition, the Prophet Muhammad ascended from the same place to heaven.
It is true that his lofty status also has political layers, including the conflict with the Palestinians and the hostility towards the State of Israel, but the reality is that millions of Muslims today consider it a holy place.
Hamas exploits this time and time again.
Accordingly, even countries that have signed peace agreements with Israel, including Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, have strongly condemned what they described in official statements as "an attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque" and "harm to Muslim worshipers."
Increased to do UAE Senior Minister Anwar Gergash noted that the violence makes it difficult for efforts to achieve a political solution that includes the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Saudi Arabia, too, used harsh language when describing the policemen who acted in front of the rioters as "occupying forces."
In the blink of an eye, Israel seems to have returned years ago to its cool relations with the Arab world, as a kind of entity perceived as a foreign plant in the Middle East.
Only some time ago, it was the Palestinians who were condemned for the murderous terrorist attacks in Israel.
Against the background of these things, difficult questions arise about the conduct of the political echelon that did not recognize the intensity of the incident and allowed the rioters to gather in the mosque.
Foreign Minister Lapid and his counterparts at the "Negev Summit", Photo: AFP
It is strange to recall now the summit of the Negev that took place only last month and convened four Arab foreign ministers (from Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco and the Emirates).
It seems that beyond the beautiful statements and PR photos, Israel has not made any real political progress at the summit.
Another miss was recorded in the Saudi sector.
Instead of taking practical steps to define the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization, a declaratory step that would have promoted our relations with Saudi Arabia.
Israel, for its part, was content with condemning the Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
In Riyadh, by the way, no official condemnation of the terrorist attacks in Israel has been published.
To teach us that statements do not impress them.
It is to be hoped that the Arab reports on the success of Egyptian mediation on Friday did not stem from an interest in mocking Egypt.
If there is truth in them, then Cairo has once again rescued Israel from complication at best and escalation that Israel is not interested in, at worst.
Were we wrong?
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